Traveling sewing machine and method of securing material to carrier wires therefor



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F. E. WIGGINS ET AL TRAVELING SEWING MACHINE AND METHOD OF SEGURING MATERIAL TO CARRIER WIRES THEREFOR Filed April 27. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Geo/ye E Mgg/ns* f 1,616,158 Feb' l 1927 F. E. wlGGlNs ET AL TRAVELING SEWING MACHINE AND METHOD- 0F SECURING MATERIAL *T0 CARRIER WIRES THEREFOR Filed April 27. 1,925 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 A Ill 1N VEN TORS rick la/Iggm.:

A TTORNEY y Patented el). il,l 1927.

UNITED STA rnnnnrcx n. wIGGINs, or BRIDGEPORT',

`corinne'rienr, vAND GEORGE E. WIGGINS,

A OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. v TRAVELING SEWING- MACHINE AND METHOD 0F SECURING MATERIAL 'TO CARRIER wrans rnnnnron.'

Application led April 27, 1925.4 Serial No. 26,278.

rlhis invention relates to a traveling sewing machine, and to a method of securing material to a wire adapted to carryhsaid material. llt has more particularreference to a method whereby material ordinarily or preferaby utilized to cover fields of shadegrown tobacco can be secured in novel and improved manner to a carrieror supporting-wire for said material, and to a sewing machine adapted to travel along said carrieror supporting-wire to carry out the steps of the method.

At the present time shade-grown tobacco is covered by a suitable material supported by` lengths of wire several feet above the ground. Customarily, lengths of such wire are over thirty feet apart,'there being across a iield a net. work of horizontal wires at right-angles or perpendicular to each other. The material spans the spaces .between the wires, and is secured to the carrieror supporting-wires by hand. Usually, edge portions ofadjacent pieces or strips of material are wrapped about a wire, and the securing f is manually accomplished ,by means of a needle and thread, the thread being passed through the material and about the wire. Such a method produces an unsatisfactory connection between material and wire. Soon the elements acting upon the material cause stress upon the thread and a rubbing ror chafing of thread and wire againsteach other with the result that there is during a season considerable. repairing to be done;l

an amount of repairing probably requiring more labor than that originally consumed feeding entity` to laccomplish the materialsecuring resultdesired.

A urtherobject is to provide a method of securin material, such as that to cover a tobacco eld, to a carrieror supporting.-

' wire therefor in such manner that strains upon the material, principally dueto the elements, cancause no rubbing or chaing of thread and wire lagainst each other, the method contemplating the production of securing stitches in the material in spaced relation to the carrieror supporting-wire and so arranged that strains upon the material ,will have a tendency to move said stitches closure herein, as it relates to both the machinel and the method, is merely illustrative 'of princlple and meant in no way in a limitmgsense, changes in details ot construction and arrangement of parts of the machine, and in the successionof operations of the method, being permissible so long as within the scope ofthe appended claims.

ln. the accompanying drawings forming a. partof this spef'zilication,-

Fig. l is a side elevational -view of a machine capable olt carrying out the steps of the method and in which the features of the invention are incorporated, disclosing a carrieror supporting-wire in section, and ad- ]accnt portions of shade-material as when being stitched together and about the wire;

Figs. 1u and lb are, respectively, anuenlarged cross-sectional view through a carrler-l or supporting-wire disclosing adjacent portions ot' material secured thereto, and al diagrammatic view of the double lock stitch made by the machine disclosed;

Fig, 2 is a front elevational view of the machine, as seen from the right in Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on. line 3-3 in rig. i;

lFig. d is a sectional view on line d--l in Figi;

Fig. 5 is a partial elevational view as seen from the top in Fig. 1,'detailing portions of the mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 6 6 in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 7 7 in Fig. 2. y

A description of the construction and Imode of operation ot the improved traveling sewing machine Willmalre lain the several steps ot the method of tie invention.

Broadly, the method contemplates the advancement along a' length of wire of stitching entity in synchronism with a feeding entity for said stitching entity to accomplrh l mechanism for feeding the machine along a wire, said stitching mechanism and ma- "chine, feeding mechanism being synchronous.

With respect to the drawings, N10 represents the machine frame, which is of general C shape, and 11 indicates a standard integral with or secured to the frame 10 in any suitable manner.

As disclosed, the standard. 11 is madeof three metal strips. See Figs. 2 and 3. 12 and 13, respectively, are twine cases, the former containing a spool of twine or thread 14 for the needle, and the latter containing a similar spool for the loo er, of the inachine. Bands or hoops 16 o metal, enveloping the twine cases and secured to the three metal strips of the standard in any convgnient way, fix the relation of the twine cases to the frame. The structure described is for the sake of lightness. The twine or thread can be associated with the machine frame in someother ordinary or preferred manner. Desirably, each spool 14 rests upon a removable base 17 in each twine case 12, 13. As shown, the bases 17 are secured in the twine cases by means'of bayonet locks 18. Each base has a handle 19 upon its outer or lower face for better manipulating the base When locking or releasing it', and has upon lits inner or upper face a post 20 adapted to enter a'spool 14 A to stabilize said spool. The spools discled are of frustro-conical shape, although they need not be so shaped. y

Numeral 21 denotes a main shaft mounted in bearings 22 of the frame 10, and 23 represents a stud iixedly mounted in said frame at right-angles to and near one end of saidl main shaft. A balance or Hy wheel 24 upon the stud is for the purpose' of rotating the main shaft, and, las shown, said wheel has an actuating handle 24 whereby said main shaft can be manually rotated. Clearly, the main shaft could be power driven. The balance or fly wheel has a long hub 2-5 the inner end of which is provided with fa bevel gear 26 meshing with a smaller bevel gear 27 on the main shaft whereby each revolution of the balance or fly wheel rotates the main shaft an amount preferably greater than a single revolution (two revolutions as shown).

The stitchingr mechanism and the machine feeding mechanism are both actuated from the main shaft 21, and for each revolution of the main shaft there is, preferably, one

stitch made and a feed ahead of the machine one step, said one stitch and one step of feed being synchronous; that is, being equal to each other in timing and spacing. Evidently, a single rotation of the main shaft could produce more than one stitch andv one step of feed so long as the stitching and 'feeding are synchronous.

The' bevel gear 27 on the main shaft 21 has,v secured to it a crank plate 28 'with crank pin 29 preferably of ball type construction. 30 is a connecting rod with socket at one end engaging the ball crank pin 29 and with socket at opposite end engaging a ball crank pin 31 of a needle bar lever 3 2. The needle bar lever is pivoted upon a stud secured to the frame 10, and is pivoted at 34 to a needle bar 35 mounted in bosses -36 of the frame 1() to vbe longitudinally movable. Clearly, rotation of the crank plate 28 causes the needle bar to reciprocate. 37 is a thread eye and 38 is a needle ofthe needle bar. 'lhe needle may be held to the needle bar in regular fashion by a chuck.

Numeral 39 represents a crank plate upon the end of the main shaft 21 opposite the crank plate 28, and 40 is a crank pin on said late which engages in a cam slot 41 of a ooper reciprocating lever 42 in the base 44 of thevframe 1n convenient manner. This base 44 has two bearings 45 for a looper rockshaft 46. The looper rockshaft is longitudinally movable in the bearings 45, as well as oscillatable therein, and reciprocatory `movement is imparted to said rockshaft by said looper reciprocating lever 42. To this end,- the rockshaft has a collar 47 with pin 48 entering an elongated slot 49 ih said loo er reciprocating lever 42.

Intermediate the ends of the main shaft 21 is a mitre gear 50 which meshes with a mitre gear 51 xed upon a short perpendicular shaft 52 rotatably mounted ina protuberance 53 of the frame. The end of this short shaft spaced from the protuberance has a crank plate 54 with ball crank pin 55 engaged by a socket at one end of a connecting rod 57. The other end of said connecting rod 57 has a socket engaging a ball crank pin 58 upon a looper lever 59 fixed upon thelooper rockshaft 46. 60 is a looper upon said looper lever, and 61 are thread eyes of said looper.

Clearly, the connection between the mitre gear 50 upon the main shaft 21 and the looper lever 59'as described, causes the looper to be rocked in the direction of its length when the mainl shaft is rotated, while the con-v nection between the crank plate 39 and the looper rockshaft causes said looper to reciprocate transversely. It is sufficient to Say for the purposes of the vpresent invention,

that the movements of the needle and looper,

all operated from the main shaft 21, synchrolil Aria

nize to that extent necessary to produce. the old and common form of double lock stitch more particularly disclosed-in Fig. 1", and we consider it unnecessary to follow through the specific manner of making the stitch, principally for'the reason that .we do not intend to be limited to any particular type of stitch, although it now seems preferable to utilize a type of stitch which can be made by a looper, or its equivalent,rather than by devices which carry whole spools of thread at thedirect location of the making of the stitches. i

The main shaft 21 also carries an eccentric 6:2 with eccentric strap 63 `which is pivotcd at 64 to a block 65`adjustable in a `longitudinal slot 66 of a pawl carrier 67. rllhis pawl carrier is freely mounted upon a feed roll shaft 68 adjacent a ratchet 69 .fixed upon said feed shaft 68. 70 are pawls on the pawl carrier, and 71 are springs urging the pawls into the teethof the ratchet. 72 is a pawl stop on a block 72 fixed on thebed plate 73 `secured to the frame and having an opening allowing traverse of the needle. 72 is a spring urging the pawl stop into the ratchet. rlhe feed roll, shaft 68 has bearings 75 adjacent each of its ends, the

bearings being in bosses 76 upon the frame 10. Said shaft 68 also has a feed roll 77 at one of its ends, and a gear 78 at its opposite end, said gear 78 meshing with a similar gear 79 upon a feed roll sha-ft 80 which has.

a feed roll 81 arranged adjacent and 'prefcrably in alignment with the feed roll 77. llach feed roll 77, 81 desirably includes a grooved portion 82 to engagel about` a wire and material u on said wire, and a knurled portion 83 adjacent said grooved portion, the grooved portions .being Iadapted to lie against a wire and material thereon directly opposite each other, and the knurled portions bci-ng adapted to also lie directly opposite each other in firm engagement with material (preferably at the seam) secured to said wire. rl`he whole arrangement is adapted to be such that as the feed rolls rotate, they ip. the wire'and material and feed ahead, carryingthe remainder 'of the sewing machine along. Clearly, the connection between the eccentric 62 on the main shaft 21 and said feed rolls as fully described, causes the feed rolls to be actuated upon rotation of themain shaft. 'llhe adjustable connection` between the eccentric L:

strap 63 and the pawl carrierv allows for adjustment of the machine feed mechanism in order that there can be synchronism between the stitching mechanism and said feed mechanism, as will be understood. The pawls 70 insure that the pawl lcarrier is locked to the ratchet'as soon as' actuation of said pawl carrier in the feeding direction of the feed rolls is attempted. Upon the reverse movement of the pawl carrier, the

pawls ride over the ratchet teeth.. The pawl stop, obviously, engages the teeth of the ratchet to preclude reverse movement of the ratchet, as well as of the feed rolls, while the pawl carrier and pawls are moving in the non-feeding direction of the feed rolls.

rllhe upper portion of the shaft is mounted in a boss 84 on the frame 10 and similar to` a boss 76. lntermediate its' ends this -shaftSO has a-universal joint 85. and the end portion of saidshaft'adjacent the feed roll 81 is mounted in a bearing 86 pivoted to a feedl tension rod '87 slidably mounted in bosses, 88 and 89 of the frame. 10.' A coil spring 90 upon the rod 87 en gages at one end against a collar 91 fixed e upon said rod 87, and at its other end against the boss 88 to cause the feed roll 81 to rc- 'vsiliently press against the feed roll 77. The universal joint is constructed to insure that upon the rod 9a engages at one end againsta collar 91 fixed upon said rod 94, and at.

its other end against the boss 88 to cause the presser foot to resiliently engage the bed plate 73. 95 is an opening in the presser foot allowing traverse of the needle. The presser foot can be of any suitable construction. `We have preferred to show it as extending partially about the wire. upon which the sewing machine travels.

Numeral 96 denotes a collar fixed upon the upper end of the rod 87, and 97 is an arm extension of said rod 87 slidablyl arranged upon the rod 9d and normally situated in spaced relation to a collar 98 fixed upon the end of said rod 9d opposite the presser foot. 99 is 'a lever of a feed roll and presser foot lifter' which is pivoted upon a part of the frame as at 100 and has engagement with said collar 96. Actuation of the lever 99 causes the feed rolls to disengage, and also causes the presser foot to be lifted from ythe bed plate. rl`he clearance between the arm extension 97 and thecollar- 98 allows the feed roll 81 to be removed from the feed roll 77 before the presser footl is lifted from the bed plate. This feature makes provision for releasing the feed rolls 1ndependently of the presser foot.

Numeral 101 represents grooved carrier wheels rotatably mounted upon the bed plate to support the machine upon a length of wire, and 102 represents a grip upon the machine frame, or upon the standard. whereby the machine can be bettercontrolled as it rides along said length of wire.

rThe twine cases preferably include tubes 108 through which the thread passes to the needle and the louper, respectively.. l As dislill) closed, the thread for the looper is passed through a double eye 105 on the frame, thence over a rod 106 and between elements of a tension device 107 upon said rod, thence again through said double eye 105, thence about the looper rockshaft, and thence through the spaced eyes in the looper. The thread for the needle is passed through a double eye 108 on thel frame, thence over a rod 109- and between elements of a tension device 110`upon said rod 109, thence again through said double eye 108, thence thrugh the eye of a needle bar, and thence through the eye of the needle.

The manner in which the sewing machine operates is obvious. Adjacent portions of pieces or strips, denoted ,A and B, respectively, of material to be secured upon the wire C are folded together in any suitable manner and about `said wire 0. 'The grooved carrier Wheels 101 are caused to rest upon said wire (preferably upon material wrapped about the wire) to support the machine while operating, and the feed rolls, presser foot andbed plate are made to engage said wire and material'in the manner already fully set forth. Upon rotationof the balance or fly wheel the main shaft is rotated to actuate the stitching mechanism and forward feeding mechanism so that the timing and spacing of the stitching operation are equal to the timing'and spacing of the feeding operation; that is, so that the stitching and feeding operations synchronize. Desirably. the feed rolls are behind the needle and looper (considering the direction of feed), so that the feed of the machine upon the wire andmaterial is obtained by action of `feed rolls which are working upon secured material; that is to say, the feed rolls advance along the line of the seam as it is madeby the needle and looper of the machine.

It is to be noted that the seam .is made in spaced relation to the wire C (below said wire as disclosed, the needle of the sewing machine being beneath the plane of the wire). This accomplishes an important result. Strains upon the material can cause no rubbing or chang of thread and wire against each otherbecause there is no possibility of thread and wire contacting, it being evident that drawing, stretching. or strainingvof the material has a tendency to more the seam or stitching away from the wire.

`Ot' the material depending at opposite sides of the wire into Contact with each other closely* adjacent the. wireq and means for forming stitches through the contacting portions of the sheet material.

2. Iii a sewing machine adapted to be supported upon a suspended wireI for movement therealong and to attach sheet material looped over said wire to the wire, means having a groove therein substantially concentric with the wire for pressing the looped material into Contact with the wire, means for pressing the portions of the material at opposite sides of the wire into contact with each other adjacent the wire, and means tor forming stitches through the contacting portions of the sheet material.

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield` and State ot Connecticut` this 18th day'of April, A. D., 1925.

FREDRICK E. VVIGGINS.

Signed at Boston, in the county ot Suffolk, and State ot' Massachusetts, this 20th day of April, A. D., 1925.

GEORGE E. WIGGINS. 

